Trauma management on the battlefield: a modern approach

With the development of British Army doctrine it is necessary to review the concepts underlying medical support to the modern battlefield. In particular, the provision of timely and balanced resuscitation to the high intensity battle is an issue requiring an understanding of both the tactical and the clinical demands. The wholesale application of civilian techniques and approaches to trauma management is not possible given the austerity of the battlefield clinical environment. The commitment to excellence and quality of care implicit in modern mainstream practice is of continuing relevance to the battlefield. A doctrinal approach involving the definition of desired clinical outcome and the constraints of operational feasibility, is proposed. Specifically, the introduction of a triad approach to trauma management is offered. The triad comprises readily available Battlefield Advanced Trauma Life Support (BATLS) skills, Surgical Resuscitation deployed forward and the provision of Field Intensive Care. Such an approach would marry together the clinically ideal with the tactically.